Native nations respond to Hurricane Sandy

By Chris Fry

November 7, 2012

Nov. 2 — “We know a tidal surge of about four to six feet came
into the Reservation. We still do not have electricity. We had our Tribal
burial grounds halfway covered with water. Right now it is the electricity that
is needed which is the issue. It’s getting cold and some of our elders
don’t have ways to heat their home,” said Shinnecock Chairman
Trustee Randy King describing the situation on the Shinnecock Reservation on
eastern Long Island after Hurricane Sandy. (nativestrength.com)

King reports that Tribal offices have been working to coordinate emergency
relief efforts without power, mobile phones or the Internet.

For the Narragansett nation on Rhode Island, the Tribal Police Department
Chief says, “I’ve been told that it’s going to be weeks
before we get power. So our greatest need is to get generators so we can
continue our government functions.” (usetinc.org) The Narragansett health
clinic has been closed because there is no power, but the Indian Health Service
is reportedly sending generators to reopen the clinic.

Ever since the first Europeans arrived on this continent, which they
arrogantly named after one of their own map makers, Native peoples have been
forced to endure every kind of outrage and oppression. Despite this, Native
people and their nations have survived. One strategy that often was effective
was unity and solidarity among the Native nations against this onslaught.

United South and Eastern Tribes Inc. has been coordinating a united response
to this disaster for these and other Native nations. USET announced that Jerry
Wheeler, the Seminole Executive Director of Public Safety, is sending a
response team to New York to assist the Shinnecock and “help coordinate
resources and assist with documentation for state and federal agencies.”
(usetinc.org, Nov. 1) USET is working directly with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, the
U.S. Department of Agriculture and organizations such as the Red Cross to
ensure that the Native nations get the proper response to deal with this
calamity.